"If the Earth gets overpopulated and very polluted and we would have to go to another planet, where do you think we would go?"
Special Note
Ask an Astrobiologist has received nearly a thousand questions about Nibiru and 2012, with more than 200 answers posted. Please read a summary of the answers that have already been posted, use the search feature and read the FAQ’s before submitting questions on these topics.
-
Question
What evidence is there that life exists on other planets?
There is no direct evidence that life exists on other planets -- but the only place we have looked seriously for life is on the surface of Mars, which was visited by two Viking landers in 1976. The Viking experiments did not detect any life in the surface soil, but they did not sample the subsurface, which is a much more likely place to find life on Mars. The famous Mars rock (ALH84001) might contain fossils of martian microbial life, but most scientists do not find this claim persuasive. Otherwise, we have just begun the astrobiological exploration of the planets. The first priority is to look for potentially habitable environments. Later we hope to carry out searches for life itself. This search is one of the main goals of the science of astrobiology.
May 8, 2003
- How frequently are questions answered?
- I asked a question but there was no answer?
- Who is the Astrobiologist answering these questions?
- Will I get an email when my question is answered?
- What college courses should I take to become an astrobiologist?
- How can I get a job as an astrobiologist at NASA?
- Have aliens visited Earth? Are UFOs real?
- Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction?
- Is it true that the Sun will be in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy in December 2012 and that this will cause a pole shift and massive destruction.
- Has NASA discovered life on other worlds?
- Astrobiology Career Path Suggestions